UFC Fight Island 1 took place Wednesday, July 15, 2020 on Fight Island in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The card was headlined by a featherweight bout between Calvin Kattar and Dan Ige.
Closing odds are courtesy of one of the most popular Las Vegas based sportsbooks Circa Sports. Here’s a quick recap of each of those fights.
Favorites that Won
In the main event, Calvin Kattar fended off all of Dan Ige’s takedowns, then proceeded to outstrike him over the course of five entertaining rounds to win a unanimous decision. Kattar was the favorite at -235 while Ige was +200
In a closely contested battle, Ryan Benoit starting strong, but Tim Elliott turned it up in round two and three to score enough points to win a unanimous decision. Elliott was a -160 favorite while Benoit was +140
In a thrilling bantamweight match-up, Jimmie Rivera unloaded good combinations and was able to avoid being put on his back by a very game Cody Stamann to win a unanimous decision. Rivera closed -113 while Stamann closed -107
John Phillips was no match for UFC newcomer Khamzat Chimaev, who thoroughly outgrappled him from the opening seconds of the bout. Chimaev cruised through the first round, then put Phillips away with a D’Arce choke in the second round. Chimaev closed -500 with the return on Phillips +395
Andreas Michailidis couldn’t keep up with Modestas Bukauskas as Bukauskas landed nasty elbows to the side of the head at the end of the round, stunning Michailidis, who was unable to continue -115. Bukauskas was a -115 favorite while Michailidis was -105
Jared Gordon was the superior wrestler against Chris Fishgold and he utilized that advantage for all three rounds, easily taking top position each round and winning a unanimous decision. Gordon came through as a -140 favorite while Fishgold was a +120 underdog.
In the opening bout of the evening, Jack Shore dominated a completely overmatched Aaron Phillips, controlling the entire fight until finishing Phillips at the midway point of round two with a submission. Shore was -800. Phillips was +585
Underdogs that Won
Jiri Prochazka made one hell of a UFC debut, hurting former title challenger Volkan Oezdemir early in the second round with a kick before knocking him out cold with a punching combination along the fence. Prochazka was a +155 underdog while Oezdemir was -180.
Talia Santos was in complete control against a game Molly McCann, utilizing all limbs effectively in the striking, then dominating McCann on the ground both with top position, ground and pound and submission attempts to win a one-sided decision. Santos was +165 while McCann was -190
Mounir Lazzez wasn’t given much of a chance agaisnt Abdul Razak Alhassan, especially after a nasty combination from Alhassan in the opening seconds, but Lazzez not only survived the exchange, but came back firing, and controlled the bout the rest of the way with a strong mixture of superior movement, range striking, clinch fighting and takedowns to win a unanimous decision. Lazzez was a +270 underdog while Alhassan was -325
Lerone Murphy survived some early grappling exchanges against BJJ expert Ricardo Ramos, then responded with a takedown of his own, where he crushed Ramos with punches from top position to earn a TKO victory. Murphy was victorious as a +155 underdog while Ramos was -180.
Diana Belbita was in full control of her fight against Liana Jojua, rocking her early on the feet, but she inexplicably took Jojua down and was promptly submitted with a brutal armbar. Jojua was a +198 underdog while Belbita was -228
